Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Birmingham. Following representations by Minister Taylor, then Minister Frydenberg's office arranged a meeting which took place on 20 March 2017 between Minister Taylor, Minister Frydenberg's office and members of the Department of the Environment and Energy to discuss a listing which affected Mr Taylor's private landholding. How many other farmers affected by this listing got this special treatment?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. As has been made very clear, the member for Hume requested a briefing in relation to the listing as a result of constituent and electorate interest in the matter.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chisholm, a supplementary question.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the members of the department in attendance at that meeting was a compliance officer from the unit responsible for investigating Minister Taylor's company for allegedly poisoning hectares of critically endangered grasslands. How many landowners under investigation by the department are given this special treatment?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I again draw the senator's attention to the statements that have been made that Mr Taylor did not ask for or indeed even know that the officer present at the meeting was a compliance officer—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order—I'm reluctant to do it so quickly, but given the last answer was only about nine seconds long: references to past statements are not directly relevant to the question. This question is: how many other landowners got this special treatment? I think the public are entitled to know that. The government is saying: 'This was perfectly fine. Minister Taylor can demand this.' How many other landowners got this special treatment?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm reluctant to say that references to past statements are, by that nature, not directly relevant. I thought the minister was actually addressing the first part of the question, which was the preamble to the bit you just reminded him of. Senator Birmingham.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President, I was indeed making the point, given the question referenced the attendance of a compliance officer at the meeting, that Mr Taylor has been clear that he did not know that there was a compliance officer present at this meeting. I further highlight the statement of the secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy, who has said very clearly on the record, 'In relation to compliance, I can be very clear that Minister Taylor has never raised the issue with me.'

In relation to the insinuation that somehow nobody else is concerned about this issue, can I draw the Senate's attention to a joint letter from New South Wales Farmers and the National Farmers' Federation dated 3 October 2017 with regard to 'EPBC listing: natural temperate grassland of the South Eastern Highlands of New South Wales and the ACT'. This clearly was an issue of interest to farmers across this region, including the local MP. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chisholm, a final supplementary question.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many attendees of the meeting were made aware of Minister Taylor's direct interest in the matters being discussed? Did Minister Taylor declare his interest at the start of the meeting?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that the Department of the Environment and Energy has already addressed and answered questions in relation to these matters. I refer the Senate to that Hansard and equally invite the Senate, if it would like, in terms of its general interest in this topic and desire to appreciate that this was a matter of broader concern—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, on a point of order?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance: we haven't had an answer to any of the questions asked so far. This question is asking how many attendees were made aware of the interest, and that hasn't been answered before. We'd appreciate an answer to just one of these three questions.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's an opportunity to debate the merits of any answers after question time. I'm listening carefully to the minister to ensure direct relevance. He is 17 seconds in. I call on him to continue.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to compliance matters, I again draw attention to Mr Taylor's statements that 'I have never made a representation in relation to compliance matters' and the secretary of the department's statement that he can be very clear that Minister Taylor has never raised the matter with him. In relation to what the topic of the briefing was about, which was the general listing, there are other interests in the general listing, as evidenced by the fact that New South Wales Farmers and the National Farmers' Federation made representations on it. I seek leave to table the correspondence from New South Wales Farmers and the National Farmers' Federation.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister doesn't need leave to table a document. Senator Birmingham has tabled the document.